Don't Leave Zoning, Land Use Issues to Chance

October 2002

In any real estate deal, a buyer or lessee needs to discover before the deal closes whether uses on the property are restricted. Many commercial real estate contracts give you a zoning due diligence period. Other contracts include contingencies that give you time to change the land-use "entitlements" to permit the proposed uses. The key issues you must address are not hard to understand, but missing a step may seriously impede your future ability to use the property as you desire.